SASABONSAM

Lore

Sasabonsam, also known by the variants Asanbosam or Asasabonsam, is a creature spoken of among the peoples of Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Togo. In the Twi language, its name is formed from the root sasa, meaning possession or presence of a spirit, and the word bonsam, which translates as demon or evil. Across the region, the name underscores its nature as a malevolent spiritual being, a hostile force tied to both witchcraft and the deepest wilds of nature.

Legends describe Sasabonsam as a terrifying hybrid of human, bat, and predator. Standing roughly five feet tall, its thin body is covered with long, dark-red hair or mottled skin that serves as perfect camouflage among the shadows of the forest canopy. While its face remains humanoid, it sports a thick beard, pointed ears, blood-shot eyes, and a small horn jutting from its crown. Its arms transition into enormous bat-like wings with a staggering span of twenty feet, while its torso remains skeletally thin.

The creature's hunting method is as gruesome as its appearance. It perches high in the branches of kapok trees, letting its thin, permanently bent legs dangle invisibly among the vines. When an unsuspecting traveler passes beneath and accidentally brushes against those legs, Sasabonsam snatches them up with explosive speed. The victim is hauled into the high branches, where the demon bites off their head and drinks the blood, leaving only the discarded remains to rot above the forest floor.

The demon's natural habitat is restricted to the most remote parts of the tropical forest, specifically the giant silk-cotton trees (Ceiba pentandra). These trees are revered as both the tree of life and portals to the spirit world. Local tradition holds that the reddish tint of the soil found around the roots of these massive trees is actually the dried blood of Sasabonsam's countless victims, a grim warning to all who dare to walk beneath the canopy after the sun has set.